Venetian blind bracket and top mounting means therefor



March 21, 1956 H. B. (Ii-HATFIELD VENETIAN BLIND BRACKET AND TOPMOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 21, l948 March 23,W50 H. B. CHATFIELD 5 M VENETIAN BLIND BRACKET AND TOP MOUNTING MEANSTHEREFOR Filed April 21, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. It A PatentedMar. 21, 1950 ear VEN BLIND BRACKET AND TOP MGUN'LENG BEEANS THEREFORHenry Chatiield,

Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Application April 21, 1948, Serial No.22,438

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to Venetian blind brackets of the type adaptedfor supporting Venetian blind structure at either end thereof formounting adjacent to a window or the like, and more particularly mypresent invention relates to an attachable ceiling mounting means forsuch brackets.

A primary object of my invention is to provide an attachable ceilingmounting means for such brackets which is adapted to be attachedthereto, when it is desired to attach the bracket from above.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachable ceilingmounting means for such brackets which may be readily detachably securedthereto.

Still another object of my invention is to provide such a. ceilingmounting means for attachment to such bracket, which ceiling mountingmeans is designed especially for attaching cooperation with theattachable head rail supporting means of my invention as disclosed in mycopending application Serial No. 22,437, filed April 21, 1948, forVenetian blind bracket.

Under various conditions of use of the brackets of the type referred to,it is sometimes desired to utilize a side mounting of the bracket or arear mounting of the brackets, and on other occasions it is desired touse a top mounting 01 a ceiling mounting of the brackets. To suitvarious conditions, the brackets of the type here referred to areusually provided with means whereby the main body of the bracket may besecured to some part of the wall or window frame for a side mounting ofthe bracket, and there is ordinarily provided a rear flange on thebracket for facilitating the rear mounting of the bracket, the flangeand body portions having provision for receiving screws or the like inthese respective portions. For the purposes of providing a ceilingmountin or top mounting of the brackets of this type there have usuallyheretofore been provided on such brackets a horizontally disposed flangemember welded or otherwise secured to the bracket in a permanent mannerand having apertures for receiving screws or like fastenings forfacilitating the attachment of the bracket to the ceiling or top of thewindow frame where the top mounting was availed of. Under someconditions in the past a top or ceiling mounting member was formedintegrally with the head rail supporting means including a shelf oroiistanding flange for supporting the head rail of the Venetian blindunit. I

In the various forms in which the top or celling mounting means wasprovided on such brackets in the past, it was, or intended to be apermanent part of the bracket. Since it was only occasionally, or undercertain circumstances, that the top or ceilin mounting was desired to beavailed of, the provisions for this type of mountin in the bracketsheretofore provided necessarily unduly increased the cost Where such topmounting or ceiling mounting means was not to be utilized in the bracketinstallation of the Venetian blind unit.

In accordance with my invention, therefore, I contemplate the provision"of attachable top or ceiling mounting means which will be utilized inconjunction with themain supporting bracket only where the top orceiling mounting is to be availed of in the final installation, andunder such condition, the person making the installation can readilyattach the ceiling mount on the job.

Another especial object of my invention is to provide attachable ceilingor top mount which may be attached to the supporting bracket without theuse of tools.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will appear fromthe following detail description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the mainsupporting bracket of my inventionalone, looking toward the insidethereof, and with the Venetian blind head rail supporting means omitted.

Figure 2 is a rear end view of the bracket shown in Figure 1, lookingtoward the right side of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, similar to Figure 1 but showing theattachable head rail supporting means in attached relation to the mainsupporting bracket, and showing a top or ceiling mounting means attachedto the main supporting bracket in cooperative relation to the head railsupporting means.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but show ing the head railsupporting means attached to the main supporting bracket and before thetop or ceilin mounting means has been assembled in cooperative relationtherewith.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the top or ceiling mounting meansalone, of the form illustrated in Figures 3, 5, and 7'.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the assembled structure shown in Figure3.

Figure 8 is a View like Figure 3 but illustrating 3 a modified form ofattachable head rail supporting means and a modified form of top orceiling mounting means in assembled relation therewith.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-I of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the top or ceiling mounting means,alone, of the modified. form shown in Figures 8 and 10.

Figure 12 is a perspective view or the head rail supporting means,alone, of the form shown in Figures 3, 4 and 7.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the embodiment of my invention inconjunction with a Venetian blind supporting bracket having a pivoted ormovable front facia supporting member or clip.

Now referring more specifically to the drawings, the main Venetian blindsupporting bracket member generally designated by the numeral Icomprises a main body portion 2 having a rear flange member 3offstanding inwardly from the main body portion 2 at substantially aright angle thereto. A facia board supporting member generallydesignated by the numeral 4 has a main body portion 5 having anoffstanding front flange portion at the front edge thereof ofistandinginwardly at substantially a right angle to the main body portion 5 ofthe facia holder t, the

front flange portion being designated 8. The facia carrier or holder 4is also provided with rear flange portions 1 and 8 at the top and bottomthereof spaced rearwardly from the front flange portion 5 and disposedat substantially right angles to the main body portion 5. The faciaholder 4 also includes a bottom or supporting flange 9 likewise disposedat substantially right angles to the body portion 5. The facia holder isan integral member with the flange portions .5, 'l, 8, and 9 formedintegrally with the main body portion 5, the flange 9 being a downwardextension of the body portion 5 and bent at right angles thereto, andthe flange portion Bbeing a rearward extension of the flange portion 9and bent at right angles thereto. The body portion 5 of the facia holderincludes a rearwardly extending portion 5a extending rearwardly of theflange portions 7 and 3 and the facia holder 5 is pivoted to the mainbody portion 2 of the supporting bracket 1 by means of a pivot pin 90passing through the rearward extension iia of the facia holder.

In the closed position of the facia holder 4 shown in Figure 1 andFigure 3, the rearward extension 5a lie-s against the inner side of themain body portion 2 of the supporting bracket l, the flange portions 1and 8 are disposed adjacent the front edge of said body portion 2 andthe flange portion 6 is disposed somewhat forwardly of the front edge ofthe body portion 2 of the main supporting bracket l.

Cooperating locking means are provided on the facia holder land the mainbody portion 2 of th supporting bracket I, said locking means comprisingan outstruck projection H on the rearward extension 5a of the faciaholder intended to cooperate with a dimple or aperture (not shown)provided in the body portion 2 of the main supporting bracket I. Tofacilitate the closing action of the facia holder, in reference toengagement of the projection l l with the main body portion 2 of themain supporting bracket I, the latter is provided with a flareddepression (not shown) leading from the front edge of the same towardthe aforesaid aperture and flared outwardly toward the front edge of thebody portion 2, so that in closing of the facia holder the projection iiengages smoothly with the depression portion I3.

The rearward extension 5a of the facia holder 4 is strengthened by theprovision of a longitudinal rib I ia.

The Venetian blind head rail or head bar supporting means comprises anintegral member fabricated separately from the main supporting bracketl, the head rail supporting means being generally designated it and seenbest in Figures 3, 5 and 7, This integral or unitary head railsupporting means is pressed out of a single piece of metal and comprisesa generally vertically disposed main bracket engaging portion I5 and agenerally horizontally disposed shelf or head rail supporting portion56, the shelf portion l5 being bent at substantially right angles to theportion i5 in the forming operation. At the upper or free edge of thebracket engaging portion 15 the sam is provided with hook portions 5a,[5b, and 50 which are adapted to engage over the upper edge of the mainbody 2 of the bracket member I, as seen best in Figures 5 and '7, forsupporting the member I 4 upon the bracket member i. Cooperating lockingmeans are provided on the member 14 and th main bracket member 1 forlocking the member [4 in proper position on the bracket member I. Saidlatter locking means comprise the locking member or projection H bentinwardly from the bracket engaging portion 15 adjacent the rear edgethereof and adapted to interlockingly cooperate with a locking member orlug i8 bent inwardly from the rear flange 3 of the main bracket I. Thislocking lug it extends from the rear flange 3 at an acute angle to theplane of the main body portion 2 and the lug is has a downwardlyextending portion 480: formed by cutting away the metal rearwardlythereof between the same and the flange 3.

Thus, when it is desired to attach the head rail supporting member It tothe main bracket 1, the hook portions l5a, I51), and H30 are engagedover the upper edge of the body portion 2 of the main bracket i in themanner shown by Figures 3, 5, and 7, but with the member l4 disposedforwardly of the position there shown. When the hook portions of themember 14 are engaged over the upper edge of the body 2, the member [4is then slid rearwardly to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4, in thecourse of which operation the locking member or projection l1 willengage and press inwardly the portion [8a of the locking lug i8 untilthe member ll passes rearwardly of the portion 18 and is lockedtherebehind when the member I4 is finally positioned as in Figures 3 and4 due to the spring action of the metal of the lug I8 which tends torestore the latter to its original position slightly farther toward themain body 2 than the extreme inner edge of the projection ll, upon theslight inward pressure of the member I! exerted upon the portion Eda ofthe lug 8, being relieved after projection ll passes behind the portionI811.

The attachable head rail supporting means M of my invention may beprovided with one or more apertures 29 for registry with similarapertures 2! provided in the main bracket member l for receiving screwsor like fastening means for securing the bracket member to a windowframe or the like upon which the Venetian blind unit as 5 a whole is tobe supported. The shelf portion l6 of the member l4 is-likewise providedwith apertures 22 for receiving screws or like fastening means adaptedto secure the head rail of a Venetian blind to the head rail supportingmeans Hi. Shelf portion iiiis also provided with a struck up shortprojection 23 adapted to initially posi tion the Venetian blind headrail in supporting engagement with the shelf portion it. When thebracket assembly has been mounted in place to the window frame, theVenetian blind head rail is laid in place on the shelf l6 supportedthereby and the projection 23 caused to penetrate the woodof the headrail for initial positioning of the head rail on the shelf member iii,after which the head rail may be permanently secured to the shelf [6 bymeans of screws inserted through the apertures 22, screwed into. thehead rail.

The structure thus, far described is the subject matter of my copendini;application Serial No. 22,437, filed April 21, 1948 for Venetian blindbracket. I now come to a description of the top ,or ceiling mountingmeans of my invention, which, in association with the bracket structureof the type above described is the particular subject matter of claimsherein.

The top or ceiling mounting means, according to one embodiment of myinvention, is illustrated in Figure 6 and its manner of association withthe main bracket member and head rail supporting means is shown inFigures 3, 5, and '7. As shown, this top or ceiling mounting meanscomprises a member generally designated 2 the same consisting of a bodyportion 25 which is adapted to be horizontally disposed when it is m itscooperative association with the supporting bracket member i, saidmember 25 having depending legs 26 and 23 extending from one edge of thebody portion 25 at substantially right angles thereto. The body portionor ceiling flange 25, sometimes referred to as the top mounting flange,is provided with apertures 25a for receiving screws or like fasteningmeans. The legs 26 and 21 are provided at their lower ends with lookinglugs 29 which are provided by forming the legs with cut-outs or slots 3!Each of the legs 26 and 2? may be provided with one or more of thelocking lugs 29, as shown, by cutting out a portion of the metal of thelegs to form the slots 80.

It will be noted that the head rail supporting member lfl may have itsmain bracket engaging portion 55 provided intermediate the hook portions55a, i522 and We with the inwardly pressed portions Mid and 59 which arespaced inwardly from the body portion 2 of the main bracket l and fromthe plane of the bracket engaging portions of the member M. Theseinwardly pressed portions 59 and 52a provide channels for receiving thedepending legs 26 and 2i of the top or ceiling mounting 25 when the headrail supporting means Hi is attached to the main bracket member I asshown in Figures 3, 5 and 7.

In the use of my invention in actual practice,

the head rail supporting member M will be attached to the main bracketmember l as hereinbefore described. Then the top or ceiling mountingmember 25 will be attached by inserting the depending legs 28 and 2'! inthe channels provided by the inwardly pressed portions or ribs l9 andidea, the legs 26 and 2'l thus being disposed between the body portion 2of the main bracket l and the outwardly pressed rib portions l9 and [9ain the manner indicated in Figures 3, 5, and '7. The legs 25 and 2'! areof such length that when disposed in the channels provided by the ribslie and 19a, as just described, .one or more of thelugs -29 ofv each legwill extend below the shelf portion l6. of the head rail supportingmember iii. The metal of the legs 26: and 27, is sufficiently flexibleor resilient as to enable the lugs 29 to be displaced from the plane ofthe main portions of the legs by the insertion of a tool, such as ascrew driver or the like, between the main body 2 ofthe bracket 1 andthe lugs 29. By so dis.- placing the lugs 29, extending below the shelfportion I6 of the member Hi, the said displaced lugs 2.9 are caused tohave locking engagement with the underside of the shelf l5, whereby thetop, or .ceiling mounting member is thus. securely attached to the main.supporting bracket l in cooperation with the head rail supporting meansl4. When the top or ceiling mounting means 24 is thus secured to themain bracket I, it will be apparent that screws. or other fasteningmeans may be inserted through the apertures 25a for screwing the topmounting flange 25 to. the-ceiling or upper part of the window frame orthe like to thereby support the bracket assembly.

It will be apparent that the top or ceiling mounting member 2:? may bedetached from the assembly after having been secured in the mannerdescribed, if desired, by redisposing the displaced lugs 29 into theiroriginal planes, and withdrawing the member 24 upwardly thereafter.

Now referring to the modification of the invention illustrated inFigures 8 to 11, there is shown a slightly modified form of head railsupporting means which is similar in all essential characteristics tothe member Id previously described, the head rail supporting member itof Figures 8 to 10 being especially designed to cooperate with theparticular form of three-legged construction oftop or ceiling mountingmeans disclosed in these latter figures. This modified form of top orceiling mounted means generally designated by the numeral consists of abody portion 32 comprising the top or ceiling flange adapted to behorizontally disposed when the member 31 is assembled in attachedrelation to the main bracket t. The member 3| has the depending legs 33,34, and 35 extending downwardly from one edge of the body portion 32 atsubstantially right angles thereto. The depending legs 33 and 35 aredisposed substantially in a common plane, and the leg 34 is inwardlyoffset from the plane of the legs 33 and 35-.

The member 3! is designed to be assembled in attached relation to themain bracket I and head rail supporting means M, in a manner similar tothat described in reference to the assembly of member 24, to the extentthat the legs 33 and 35 are adapted to be inserted in the channelsformed by the inwardly pressed ribs l9 and lila' of the member M.However, the legs 33 and 35 of the member 3! are provided with inwardlystruck projections 33a and 35a respectively, which are adapted tocooperate with apertures 36, and 31, respectively, in the inwardlypressed ribs l9 and Illa. In assembly of the top mounting member 3! inconjunction with the head rail supporting means Hi and main bracket l,the leg 34 engages the main body of the member I4 intermediate the ribsIQ and Mia, the leg 3 being formed with an outwardly struck projection 3la designed to cooperate with an aperture 38 in the main body IE orvertically disposed portion of the member M.

When the top mounting 3| is assembled in attached relation as. .abovedescribed, the projections 33a, 34a, and 35a having their free edgesgenerally facing upwardly will cooperate with the apertures 35, 38, 3'!to prevent upward displacement of the mounting 3i and thus lock the samein the assembled or attached relation. Said projections are struck outof the metal of the legs 33, 34, 35 and sufli-ciently flexible orresilient to have a spring-like action to yieldingly engage the portionsof the member I4 while being moved downwardly thereof and then springinginto the apertures 35, 31, 38 when coming into registry therewith.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the head rail supporting memberwith its vertical main bracket engaging portion having parts spaced fromthe latter to provide channels constitutes receptacle means forreceiving the legs of the top mounting member, which receptacle orreceiving means is engageable with the flange of the top mounting memberfor supporting the latter on the main bracket when the legs are in-;serted in the channels.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. Venetian blind bracket means of the class described, comprising, incombination, a main supporting bracket member, a separate top mountingmember attachable thereto and having a mounting flange disposedhorizontally when the mounting member is attached to the :said mainbracket member, and means on said members for securing the sametogether, the top mounting member comprising a body portion constitutingsaid flange and leg members depending therefrom, said main bracketmember having a main vertically disposed body portion and parts spacedfrom the plane thereof and constituting respective channels forreceiving the respective leg members between said parts and said bodyportion of said main bracket member, said leg members having flexiblelocking lugs movable into locking engagement with said parts to preventupward withdrawal of said leg members from said channels.

2. Venetian blind bracket means of the class described, comprising, incombination, a main supporting bracket member having a plane bodyportion, a separate top mounting member attachill able thereto andhaving a mounting flange disposed at substantially right angles to theplane of said body portion and having leg members depending from saidflange, and Venetian blind head rail supporting means carried by saidmain bracket and including parts spaced from the plane of said mainbracket body portion and extending substantially parallel thereto, saidparts constituting respective channels for receiving the respective legmembers between said parts and said body portion of said main bracketmember, and said means including a shelf portion having its planedisposed at substantially right angles to the plane of said bodyportion.

3. Venetian blind bracket means as claimed in claim 2, wherein the legmembers have flexible locking lugs movable into locking engagement withsaid shelf portion to prevent upward withdrawal of said leg members fromsaid channels.

4. Venetian blind bracket means of the class described, comprising, incombination, a main supporting bracket member having a plane bodyportion, and a separate top mounting member attachable thereto andhaving a mounting flange disposed at substantially right angles to theplane of said body portion and havin leg members depending therefrom,receiving means on said main member for receiving said leg members forholding the top mounting member in supported relation to the mainbracket, and locking means for preventing withdrawal of said leg membersfrom said receiving means.

5. Venetian blind bracket means as claimed in claim 4, wherein thelocking means includes flexible locking members on the leg memberslockingly cooperable with said receiving means.

6. Venetian blind bracket means as claimed in claim 4, wherein thelocking means includes spring-like locking members on the leg membersand the receiving means is provided with recesses for lockingcooperation with said locking members, the latter being yieldablyengageable with said receiving means when the leg members are insertedthereinto, said locking members springing into locking relation withsaid recesses when coming into registry therewith during insertion ofsaid leg members.

'7. Venetian blind bracket means as claimed in claim 2, wherein the headrail supporting means comprises a member separate from the main bracketmember and attachable thereto, and means on said main bracket member andsaid head rail supporting means for securing the same together.

8. Venetian blind bracket means of the class described, comprising, incombination, a main supporting bracket member, a separate top mountingmember attachable thereto and having a mounting flange disposedhorizontally when the mounting member is attached to the said mainbracket member, and means on said members for securing the sametogether, the top mounting member comprising a body portion constitutingsaid flange and leg members depending therefrom, said main bracketmember having a main vertically disposed body portion and parts spacedfrom the plane thereof and constituting respective channels forreceiving the respective leg members between said parts and said bodyportion of said main bracket member, said leg members extending belowthe lower ends of the parts forming said channels when the legs arereceived therein, and said leg members having flexible locking membersat their lower ends movable into locking engagement with said partsbelow the same to prevent upward withdrawal of said leg members fromchannels.

9. Venetian blind bracket means of the class described, comprising, incombination, a main supporting bracket member, a separate top mountingmember attachable thereto and having a mounting flange disposedhorizontally when the mounting member is attached to the said mainbracket member, and means on said members for securing the sametogether, the top mounting member comprising a body portion constitutingsaid flange and leg members depending therefrom, said main bracketmember having a main vertically disposed body portion and parts spacedfrom the plane thereof and constituting respective channels forreceiving the respective leg members between said parts and said bodyportion of said main bracket member, said channel parts having aperturesin the sides thereof, and said leg members having spring-like lockingmembers thereon for locking cooperation with said apertures, saidspring-like locking members being yieldably engageable with said channelparts where the leg members are inserted therein and said lockingmembers springing into locking relation with said apertures 10 whencoming into registry therewith during in- UNITED STATES PATENTS sertionof said leg members.

HENRY B. CHATFIELD. Number Name Date 2,138,502 Nordstrom et a1. Nov. 29,1938 REFERENCES CITED 2,188,639 Balthasar Jan. 30, 1940 The followingreferences are of record in the 2201499 Nlsenson May 1940 file of thispatent:

